Mills County Residents Voice Property Tax Concerns At Levy Hearing
Members of the Mills County Board Of Supervisors listened to concerns and comments from residents about property taxes during a public hearing last Tuesday, March 25, at the Mills County Annex Building.
The tax rate public hearing, which lasted about 30 minutes, is one of multiple steps the supervisors are taking as they work to adopt the county’s budget for the 2025-2026 fiscal year, which begins July 1.
“We’re here to hear your concerns,” Lonnie Mayberry, chair of the three-member board, stated at the beginning of the hearing. “It’s not a debate, it’s not a forum. We’re hear to listen to you and take everything you say under advisement.”
Sarah Curry, one of nine residents to address the board, said property taxes have risen “substantially” since she and her family moved to Mills County a decade ago.
“Ten years ago, the property tax asking was $7.82 million,” she said. “Today, you’re proposing much more than that. Over the 10 years, it’s gone up $4.1 million. I’ve seen my county property taxes increase substantially.”
Curry expressed concern about the impact of rising property taxes, both county and school district, are having on county residents. She noted that insurance premiums are also on the rise and the county is proposing an EMS (Emergency Medical Services) tax. She encouraged supervisors to look for more cuts in its budget.
“I understand that there’s inflation, I understand that there’s needs, but other counties are finding a way to do it and I think Mills should do that,” she said. “As a taxpayer, but also as a mom and a person, a 52% increase over 10 years in property taxes is just too much. It’s too high and we have to stop somewhere.”
Tad McDowell shared similar thoughts, stating that last year the county took in $11.9 million in property taxes, up from $10.6 million the previous year.
“I know you can cut money out of the budget because the school just cut three-quarters of a million dollars because they were forced to,” McDowell said. “ I guarantee you that if I was sitting in your chairs, I would trim that budget. We can sharpen the pencil and we can be more efficient, but you’re not being forced to.”
Donelle Johnson suggested the supervisors limit raises in salaries for county employees, stating most people in the private sector get a 3-3.5% raise each year.
“I only get a 3 percent raise every year,” she said. “My house taxes. I moved to Mills County about eight years ago, my valuations doubled almost, the rates increased.”
Several of the people who addressed the supervisors voiced displeasure with the limited information regarding the budget that was provided to the public prior to the hearing. It would be helpful, the residents stated, to know specifically where county supervisors plan to allocate tax dollars.
Last week’s public hearing was actually the first of two public hearings the county will have regarding the budget. Specific budget numbers will be published prior to the final public hearing, which is expected to be April 22. Mills County Auditor Amber Farnan explained in a post-meeting interview why a more-detailed breakdown of the budget wasn’t shared prior to last week’s hearing.
“We have to set the tax rate prior to approving the budget,” she said. “So, we were still working on numbers and I think the board agreed with me, we weren’t ready to release numbers that are final because we were still working them and still working with departments.”
Farnan was expected to present a final budget to the supervisors at their meeting Tuesday night (April 1).”
Mayberry told the public hearing audience the budget is still a work in progress.
“As of right now, we’re looking at a 3.29% increase, as of now from last year,” he said. “We’re still making cuts, - we’re still working with departments.”
The county’s final budget proposal will be shared and published in The Opinion-Tribune prior to the second public hearing later this month.